JN123: Difference between revisions

Once more, Ash recalling his fainted partner is accompanied by Cynthia withdrawing Spiritomb, this time in favor of {{p|Togekiss}}. Knowing that Cynthia is setting the pace, Ash responds by sending in {{AP|Pikachu}} in the hopes of stopping her momentum not realising Cynthia had expected Ash to send in his strongest partner. Pikachu's series of {{m|Thunderbolt}}s fails to make contact with the swiftly moving {{t|Flying}} type, who strikes back with {{m|Air Slash}}. When Togekiss follows up with {{m|Zen Headbutt}}, Ash tells Pikachu to counter with {{p|Electroweb}}, however Pikachu [[flinch]]es leaving him to suffer a direct hit. Diantha and Leon realize that Togekiss's [[Ability]], {{a|Serene Grace}}, helped to make this happen. Making yet another switch, Cynthia sends out her {{p|Gastrodon}} to take the type advantage over Pikachu. Aiming to take out Pikachu here and now, she orders an {{m|Earth Power}}. Pikachu evades the attack by jumping high into the air using the slabs of earth flung up by it, once again following Cynthia's prediction. When Pikachu starts using {{m|Iron Tail}} next, Cynthia has Gastrodon use {{m|Stone Edge}}. This time, though, things are going according to Ash's plan, as, instead of directly attacking Gastrodon, the Iron Tail slices off the tops of some of the stone pillars created by Stone Edge and sends them flying at Gastrodon. While Gastrodon manages to catch the rocks and absorb the impact, this leaves it immobilized and defenseless, allowing Pikachu to use {{m|Quick Attack}} to smash through the rocks and into Gastrodon, finally giving Ash a knockout of his own.

Cynthia admires Ash's skill to find an opportunity in the midst of a crisis and Pikachu's ability to exploit it as she recalls her fainted Pokémon. Replacing her fainted Gastrodon, Spiritomb rejoins the battle yet again; however, Ash is now ready for it and subsequently tells Pikachu to spin around while using Thunderbolt. The resulting vortex of electricity not only successfully repels Spiritomb's Hypnosis, but also strikes it at the same time. Ash identifies the strategy as [[Counter Shield]], a tactic that he came up with while [[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl|he was traveling through Sinnoh]] and which Cynthia recognizes from the [[Lily of the Valley Conference|Sinnoh League]]. Ash assures Cynthia that he's grown much stronger since then and has Pikachu ensnare Spiritomb in an {{m|Electroweb}}, successfully avoiding a Sucker Punch in the process. As Pikachu goes for a finishing Iron Tail, Cynthia orders Spiritomb to do something unspecified. Moments later, Pikachu's move connects, causing the Forbidden Pokémon to retreat into its [[Odd Keystone]] and the audience to cheer. However, as Dan inspects Spiritomb, a dark energy suddenly emerges from the keystone and envelops Pikachu, causing him to seize up. The announcer recognizes Spiritomb's last-second move as {{m|Destiny Bond}}, whose effect has now activated. As a result, Pikachu is instantly drained of all his remaining strength and faints alongside Spiritomb. With this double-knockout, Ash's ace has been taken out and his ability to use {{m|10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt}} has been eliminated, giving him a severe handicap as Cynthia continues to stay in control of the battle.